The Directv Group, Inc.

Steven Kasakitis

Raynold M Kahn

Eric J Bennett

Luke J Crook

Robert G Arsenault

Hanno Basse

Romulo Cruz Pontual

Deanna R Kidd

David N Schlacht

Gregory Vagnati

Noreen Fong

Christopher R Roy

Erin K Nelson

Christopher J Cabanne

Walter F Filbrich

John L Norin

Stephen P Dulac

Sui-Ky Ringo Ling

David Eric Shanks

John D Choi

Michelle L Vagnati

Kenny C Chen

A system and method for allocating tuner resources in a multi-room digital video recording system, wherein the system includes a server device having a plurality of tuners therein and a first client device in communication with the server device and allocated at least a first tuner from the plurality of tuners. A second client in communication client device generates a tuner request. The server device allocates the first tuner to the second user device and communicates a content signal through the first tuner to the second client device.

Method and system for operating a multi-room digital video recording system

A system and method for communicating content to a user device includes a head end that communicates metadata for a plurality of content including the content titles. The system also includes the user device that generates a screen display comprising the plurality of content titles from the metadata and generates a selection corresponding to a first content title from a user interface, the user device adds metadata for the first content title to a queue and displays the queue in a priority order on the screen display. The user device is tuned to receive content corresponding to the first content title and stores the content in a storage device.

Method and system of building a wanted list queue for a user in a content distribution system

A system and method for registering a client device with a server device includes the server device having a display. The display displays a first identifier in response to entering a registration mode. A client device is in communication with the server device. The client device detects that the server device is in registration mode and communicates a second identifier to the client device. The server device compares the first identifier and the second identifier and, after comparing, registers the client device at the server device.

Method and system for registering a client device in a multi-room digital video recording system

A communication system and method for operating the same includes a group of user devices and a content delivery network in communication with the group of user devices. The content delivery network selects a plurality user devices from the group of user devices, divides the content into a crucial portion and a non-crucial portions, and encrypts the crucial portions differently for each of the user devices in the group using conditional access encryption. The content delivery network communicates the non-crucial portions to the plurality of user devices, communicates the encrypted crucial portion to the plurality of user devices separately from the non-crucial. The plurality of user devices assembles the crucial portion and the non-crucial portions to form the content.

Method and apparatus for file sharing between a group of user devices with separately sent crucial portions and non-crucial portions

A communication systemincludes a group of user devices, a satelliteand a content delivery networkin communication with the group of user devices. The content delivery networkselects a plurality of user devicesfrom the group of user devices, divides content into a crucial portion and non-crucial portions, communicates the non-crucial portions to the plurality of user devices using a peer-to-peer network until all non-critical portions are received. After communicating the non-crucial portions, the content delivery networkcommunicates the crucial portion to the plurality of user devicesthrough the satellite. The plurality of user devices assembles the crucial portion and the non-crucial portions to form the content. In addition, security information may be first transmitted through the satellite to the user devices so that a peer-to-peer network may be established. Thereafter, the non-crucial portion are exchanged through the peer-to-peer network.

Method and apparatus for file sharing between a group of user devices with crucial portions sent via satellite and non-crucial portions sent using a peer-to-peer network

A communication systemincludes a group of user devicesand a content delivery networkin communication with the group of user devices. The content deliver networkselects a plurality user devices from the group of user devices, divides the content into a crucial portion and a non-crucial portions. The content delivery networkcommunicates the non-crucial portions to the plurality of user devices and communicates the crucial portion to the plurality of user devices separately from the non-crucial portions and at each of the plurality of user devices. The plurality of user devicesassembles the crucial portion and the non-crucial portions to form the content.

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Redondo Beach, CA, United States of America

Steven Kasakitis